PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kevin Hawke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ian Somerhalder (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Somerhalder has chosen Clawfinger - God Is Dead as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Kevin Hawke has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Hawke
vs
Somerhalder

180 cm
20
155 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

177 cm
23
167 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

ANABOLIC **160** and LAUNDRY

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kevin Hawke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ian Somerhalder!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Wesley Smith and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hawke tries to close the distance and clinch but Somerhalder swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hawke keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Somerhalder.
Ian Somerhalder seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Somerhalder misses with a two punch combination.

Somerhalder closes the distance and clinches.
Hawke is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Somerhalder is keeping busy.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Hawke obliges.
Hawke tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Somerhalder avoids it.
Hawke lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Somerhalder is trying to break the clinch but Hawke is controlling him.
Hawke is trying to push Somerhalder away but Somerhalder has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Hawke is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Hawke with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Somerhalder pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Somerhalder misses with a double jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawke tries to clinch there but Somerhalder circles away.
Hawke looks to land a combination but Somerhalder avoids it well.
Somerhalder keeps the fight on the outside.
Hawke is looking to clinch.
Somerhalder throws a combination that misses
and Hawke counters with a three punch combo that has Somerhalder backing up. Somerhalder nods at Hawke to acknowledge the strikes.
The fighters circling - Somerhalder throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Somerhalder swats away the attempt to clinch by Hawke.

Somerhalder rushes Hawke and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Hawke lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Hawke misses with an elbow strike.

Somerhalder manages to break the clinch.
Somerhalder misses with a hook. Hawke ducked under it nicely.
Hawke tries to clinch but Somerhalder is having none of it.
Hawke fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hawke tries to clinch
and Somerhalder counters with a one-two to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Somerhalder keeps the fight on the outside.
Somerhalder misses with a series of wild punches.
Somerhalder misses with a few strikes there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawke fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hawke wants to clinch.
Somerhalder throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Hawke fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hawke shoots in looking for a takedown but Somerhalder manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hawke's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Hawke moves in looking to clinch but Somerhalder pushes him off.
Somerhalder swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Somerhalder avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hawke stalks Somerhalder and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Somerhalder's face. Somerhalder staggers backwards, shaken.
Hawke moves in looking to clinch but Somerhalder pushes him off.
Hawke avoids a punch combination nicely.
A punch combination from Somerhalder misses.
Somerhalder throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Somerhalder looks gassed!
Somerhalder avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Somerhalder misses with a body kick.
Hawke dives in and grabs Somerhalder's left leg, looking for a takedown. Somerhalder pushes down on Hawke's head and hops out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Somerhalder throws a right hand that Hawke ducks under and follows up with a left that Hawke also avoids with ease.
Hawke wants to clinch but Somerhalder slips to the side
and Somerhalder counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hawke fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hawke fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Somerhalder avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kevin Hawke. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hawke shoots in looking for a takedown but Somerhalder manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hawke's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Somerhalder throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hawke turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Hawke is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hawke looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Somerhalder throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Hawke - that will leave a mark!
Somerhalder avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Somerhalder rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hawke moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Somerhalder keeps the fight on the outside.
Hawke avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawke thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Somerhalder if he has to take too many more of those.
Hawke connects with a high kick.
Hawke shoots in but Somerhalder avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Hawke walks into a stiff left hand from Somerhalder.
Somerhalder pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hawke is looking to clinch.

Somerhalder gets a clinch.
Somerhalder blocks an elbow strike.
Nice elbow from Hawke.
Hawke putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Somerhalder in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hawke wants to stall.
Hawke throws a knee to the head but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Hawke dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Somerhalder avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Somerhalder misses with a leg kick.

Somerhalder closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Hawke's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Somerhalder throws a big right hand that misses.

Hawke is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Hawke looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hawke keeping moving, preventing Somerhalder from controlling successfully.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Somerhalder is working Hawke over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Somerhalder missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Somerhalder loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Somerhalder sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Somerhalder trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Somerhalder postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Hawke is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Somerhalder, into his guard.
Hawke wants to stand and escape but instead Somerhalder has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Somerhalder throwing strikes from guard but Hawke blocks nicely.
Hawke working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Somerhalder.

Hawke has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Somerhalder can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Somerhalder wants to pass the guard but Hawke is keeping the position.

Somerhalder decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Hawke, up you get!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Somerhalder lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hawke circles away quickly and effectively.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hawke looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hawke fails in his attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hawke looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hawke tries to clinch up but Somerhalder circles away and keeps his distance.
Somerhalder keeps the fight on the outside.
Hawke avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hawke avoids a punch combination nicely.
Somerhalder misses with the combination.
Somerhalder is breathing heavily.
Somerhalder swats away the attempt to clinch by Hawke.
Somerhalder gets cracked there but stands up to it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Somerhalder is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hawke.
Somerhalder misses with a combination
and Somerhalder takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Hawke shoots in and drives through. Somerhalder sprawls well.
Somerhalder misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hawke is looking to clinch but Somerhalder is avoiding it.
Hawke tries to clinch there but Somerhalder circles away.
Nice cross by Somerhalder.

Somerhalder clinches with his opponent.
Hawke is looking to break free of the clinch but Somerhalder has double underhooks.
Knees to the body from Hawke.
Hawke lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Ian Somerhalder has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hawke misses with a knee to the head.
Hawke tries to break the clinch but Somerhalder is controlling the position.
A knee to the head by Hawke.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Kevin Hawke will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ian Somerhalder's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Hawke checks a low kick from Somerhalder.
Somerhalder thumps Hawke with a low kick.
Somerhalder throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hawke.
Hawke fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Hawke avoids a punch combination nicely.
Somerhalder shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hawke but Hawke pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Somerhalder misses with the combination.
Somerhalder throws a right and a left that Hawke avoids nicely.
Hawke wants to clinch up but Somerhalder keeps it at a distance.
Hawke fails in his attempt to clinch.
Somerhalder takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hawke tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Somerhalder throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Hawke counters with a nice leg kick.
Kevin Hawke is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Hawke takes the fight into the clinch.
Hawke lands a hook that snaps the head of Somerhalder backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawke tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Somerhalder avoids a wild elbow strike from Hawke.
Hawke tries a knee to the head but Somerhalder blocks it.
Still in the clinch, Somerhalder scores with a nice short uppercut.
Hawke misses with a knee strike.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Hawke obliges.
Somerhalder keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Hawke's efforts to push away.
Somerhalder takes an elbow to the forehead.

Hawke breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hawke will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Hawke tries to close the distance and clinch up but Somerhalder swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hawke shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Somerhalder but Somerhalder pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kevin Hawke. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Somerhalder lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hawke circles away quickly and effectively.
A punch combination from Somerhalder misses.
Somerhalder misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Hawke swinging wildly here.
Hawke fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hawke tries to clinch up.
Kevin Hawke is winning the standup battle so far.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hawke lands a slapping body shot.
Hawke thumps Somerhalder with a low kick.
Hawke doesn't manage to clinch there - Somerhalder circles away.
Hawke is looking to clinch.
Somerhalder misses with a double jab.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hawke is defended easily by Somerhalder.
Hawke is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawke tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Somerhalder manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hawke tries to clinch up
and Somerhalder counters with a two punch combo.
Hawke doesn't manage to clinch there - Somerhalder circles away.
Somerhalder throws a leg kick that misses.
Hawke doesn't manage to clinch there - Somerhalder circles away.
Hawke tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hawke looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hawke is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Somerhalder keeps the fight on the outside.
Hawke tries to close the distance and clinch up but Somerhalder swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Somerhalder misses with a jab, cross combination.
A combination from Somerhalder does no damage.
Hawke wants to clinch up but Somerhalder keeps it at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawke tries to clinch there but Somerhalder circles away.
Hawke fails in his attempt to clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hawke.
Somerhalder throws a right and a left that both miss.
Somerhalder tries to bum rush Hawke with a series of wild strikes but Hawke uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hawke tries to close the distance and clinch but Somerhalder swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hawke doesn't manage to clinch there - Somerhalder circles away.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Hawke tries to clinch but Somerhalder moves out of range.
Hawke doesn't manage to clinch there - Somerhalder circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hawke looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hawke tries to clinch there but Somerhalder circles away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hawke slips a jab and a cross from Somerhalder.
Ian Somerhalder has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hawke throws a head kick that Somerhalder semi-blocks.
Hawke doesn't manage to clinch there - Somerhalder circles away.
Kevin Hawke is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A head kick from Hawke lands but Somerhalder takes it in his stride.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kevin Hawke showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hawke, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:28
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kevin Hawke!
Kevin Hawke decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.